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Page 541
frey from Ian's care and abandon Ian to his fate or protect Ian from John.
''I did not come to speak of Geoffrey butbut aboutabout the king."
Alinor opened her mouth, clamped it shut again with determination. Salisbury had come in person to save Ian, and, if he had not brought her men, the battle might easily have gone the other way. She had not expected even so much from him, but he was still John's brother. It was wiser to keep a still tongue in her head. She went back into the bedchamber and brought out Ian's bed-robe and a pair of slippers. Then she stepped out and found a servant whom she sent to look for her baggage. In broken pieces she heard them discussing the letter that Salisbury had brought for Ian's perusal. When she had set in motion what needed to be done, she held out a hand for the letter. Ian passed it over without really thinking what he was doing. It was fortunate that the men were deeply involved in thrashing out the political consequences of Llewelyn's capture of Gwenwynwyn and did not look at her. To Alinor the intentions were sickeningly apparent. John had obviously hoped Gwenwynwyn would be stupid enough to execute all threeIan and the two boysand depend upon John's favor to make him supreme in Wales. To her, having so recently emerged from a bout with destructive jealousy, the double motive was clear enough. It did not occur to Alinor to abandon Geoffrey, because that could not save Ian. In any case she would not have entertained the idea. Geoffrey was a part of Ian, and Ian was hers! Her attention was drawn by the rising tone of Salisbury's voice.
"I will do it in any case, Ian. You can make it harder for me or easier for methat is all."
"But William, I cannot abandon my life. The siege at Kemp must be brought to some conclusion"
"I think you will find that matter finished," Salisbury interrupted bitterly. "I think the keep is in your men's hands by now. Where do you think the four hundred

 
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